Jasmine and Rosalba work as nurses at Morton East High School. Nursing is a big part of their lives, and they enjoy their jobs. One of the many reasons they picked this career is because they care a lot about people—they love helping students. They are a big part of the Morton East Health Center and help many students each day. They went to school for many years to learn how to help their community.

Where did you go to school for nursing, and what was that experience like?
I went to Dillard University, which is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was an amazing experience to go away for school and allowed for a lot of valuable life lessons.

Looking back, do you feel your education prepared you for the real-world challenges you face as a nurse?
I do believe my nursing program taught me a lot and prepped me for my career. I still remember little things/facts that I apply to my everyday job.

What was the most difficult part of the process for becoming a nurse, whether it was school, licensing exams, or transitioning into the job?
The hardest part for me was nursing school. I was so used to getting great grades so easily prior to nursing school, and I quickly realized that I was going to actually have to study this go-round, lol. Sitting for the licensing exam was nerve-wracking as well, but at least I was done with school!

How did you finance your nursing education, and did you face any challenges with tuition or student loans?
I went to school on an academic scholarship, which was definitely a big help, but unfortunately did not cover everything. I had to take out student loans to get me through, and I’m sure I’ll be paying those back for quite a while, but I’d like to think it was worth it.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever seen on the job?
The most unusual thing I’ve seen in the hospital setting was a patient trying to escape from the unit. I worked on a floor that cared for patients who may have had an altered mental status, and this patient was not down with being hospitalized, so he tried to make a run for it.

What’s something people often misunderstand about your job?
Oftentimes, people downplay school nursing specifically and say we only give out ice packs and Band-Aids (we do a lot of that though), but there’s so much more involved. We care for the kids on all levels outside of only their health status. We look at the full picture—academics, attendance, grades, illness, social/emotional well-being, etc.—in order to best address/treat students. It’s deeper than just ice packs, and I’ll always have respect for all nurses, no matter what position they’re in.